Origins & Early Life

Patrisse Marie Khan-Cullors Brignac (née Cullors-Brignac; born June 20, 1983) is an American progressive activist, artist, and writer who co-founded the Black Lives Matter movement. Cullors created the #BlackLivesMatter hashtag in 2013 and has written and spoken widely about the movement. Other topics on which Cullors advocates include prison abolition in Los Angeles and LGBTQ rights. Cullors integrates ideas from critical theory in her activism.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

She has been the subject of criticism for her personal spending and handling of Black Lives Matter funding. Cullors was born in Los Angeles, California. Her mother Cherice Foley is a Jehovah's Witness. Her biological father was Gabriel Brignac, whom she did not meet until she was eleven years old. She was raised in the home of Alton Cullors, who used to work at a General Motors plant in Van Nuys before it was shut down, forcing him to work in low-paying jobs.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

She has three siblings: Two brothers named Paul and Monte, and a sister named Jasmine. Gabriel was a repeat offender who was jailed many times on drugs-related charges and died in 2009 in a homeless shelter. Cullors described him as having a constant and...

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